CM to head Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has been appointed as the chairperson of the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation, her office stated on Tuesday in a release. Ms. Gupta said that Old Delhi will be developed into an attractive tourism hub while conserving its rich heritage. The Chief Minister also said that Old Delhi is not merely a locality but a living symbol of the Capital’s rich history and cultural legacy.

Ms. Gupta said that the SRDC had earlier prepared several development schemes, including the redevelopment of Chandni Chowk, the Jama Masjid area, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Marg, and the beautification of the road stretch from Delhi Gate to Kashmere Gate. All these projects will be reviewed afresh to develop Old Delhi as a major tourism destination, she added.

The Chief Minister also alleged that Old Delhi has remained deprived of the desired level of development and basic civic amenities in recent years. “The government will ensure uninterrupted road construction, repair of lanes, improvement of the dilapidated sewerage system, and a clear blueprint for the uninterrupted supply of drinking water. Maintaining cleanliness and sanitation in Old Delhi is also among the government’s key priorities,” the CMO said in a statement.

In September 2021, the then AAP government inaugurated a 1.3-km-long redeveloped stretch of Chandni Chowk between the Red Fort and Fatehpuri Masjid as a traffic-free zone, featuring a wide footpath, public toilets, water ATMs, ramps for persons with disabilities, decorative lights, benches, and multilingual signage. But over the years, the area has also gone back to its old ways.